'The trust they had in me, meant a great deal. I felt like they saw my potential.' Rich first became homeless at 17, after losing his job and no longer being able to live with his dad. He sofa-surfed until he'd exhausted all options and spent the next two years bouncing between hostels. Eventually, he moved into a privately rented property, but because he lacked certain budgeting skills and had a low income, he was evicted due to rent arrears. He ended up on the streets in December. Once offices reopened after Christmas, Rich went to the housing office at the council and they put out a referral to multiple providers. Centrepoint was the first organisation he heard back from. From there, he was put up in Nightstop, where hosts provide a room for a person in need, before he moved into one of our services. As one of the eldest residents at the hostel, Rich didn’t need a great deal of day-to-day support, but help was there if he needed it. Rich talks very fondly about his key worker Michelle: 'If there was ever an issue, she helped me deal with it. Any barriers to employment or training, she’d sort it. In one instance, she drove me to the doctors so I could register. I had support the whole way. She also gave me a lot of budgeting advice. Nothing was too much.' Early on, Rich secured a hospitality apprenticeship in London. However, when the UK was put into lockdown, the apprenticeship was put on hold and eventually withdrawn altogether due to the damage to the hospitality sector. Despite this bump in the road, Rich managed to stay positive and keep himself busy at the hostel. He helped out wherever he could, and he was seen as a role model to the other young people. In the spring, he moved down to London into an Independent Living property in Lewisham and continued to apply for apprenticeships, eventually securing one in the summer. The flexibility that the Independent Living Team offered, allowing him to move in before he had secured a job, meant that he could start moving forward. The road for Rich has had some bumps, but he has managed to stay focused on his goals. We're so proud of Rich for persevering, and we wish him all the best. 🧡